Ten years ago I held an event celebrating the ten year anniversary of the first cache placed in Massachusetts: GC74 - AKA First Mass. I enjoyed that event and hikes so much I decided to host an event on October 1st every year since. We have alternated between morning and evening hikes with both some years. This year the event will have an evening hike to celebrate twenty years.
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2020
Time: 5:45 pm to 6:45 pm
Rain or Shine
On October 1, 2000 Jeremy Gilbert placed the first “GPS Cache/Stash in MA state”. On Oct 2 the cache was found by a cacher named intuition. Twenty years later we have about 16,855 caches spread from the farthest western edge of the state all the way to the capes and the islands. This event will celebrate all of those caches by recognizing this grandfather of all of them in the state: First Mass
COVID Concerns:
- Please be aware of general safety rules in this time of Covid:
- Wearing a face mask in public required in Massachusetts and for this event
- Cleaning items that are touched. If you plan on swapping TBs or coins make sure they have been well cleaned before bring them to the event.
- Not attending if you feel unwell. We all love an event, but please stay home if you have any COVID symptoms.
- Social distancing should be practiced. Even with masks we are going keep to the 6 foot rule. We are outdoors and there is plenty of room.
- Not touching others (e.g. no shaking hands) Wave or wink only.
Check out these sites on staying safe:
Mass COVID Safety
Mass & Masks
The Evening Plan:
An early evening event up on the mountain near First Mass to see the sunset and celebrate geocaching in Massachusetts. The event will last from 5:45 pm to 6:45 pm.
The Evening Schedule:
5:30 Optional - Start walking together (spaced 6 feet apart) from the parking coordinates (N 42° 27.865 W 071°09.160)
5:45 The event officially begins at the posted coords
6:00 Congregate (with masks and 6 feet spacing) near First Mass and swap cleaned, UNACTIVATED GEOCOINS and stories
6:20 Head over to the sunset coordinates (N 42° 27.711 W 071° 09.520)
6:27 Observe sunset
6:45 Event officially ends - start the hike back to the parking
7:00 Head off to parts unknown.
Notes:
1. The key to logging this event is being up on the mountain during the event.
2. If for some reason you are not in shape to make the hike up the mountain, for example you are recovering from knee surgery, I will allow you to log the cache if you make it to the parking area for the event.
3. Keep a watch on this page to learn about updates.
Previous Years:
First Mass - 10 Years!
First Mass - 11 Years!
First Mass - 12 Years!
First Mass - 13 Years!
First Mass - 14 Years!
First Mass - 15 Years!
First Mass - 16 Years!
First Mass - 17 Years!
First Mass - 18 Years!
First Mass - 19 Years!
Hope to see you there,
Loch Cache